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In Monday’s Washington Post there was a wonderful picture — if “wonderful” is the appropriate word — of the sack Redskins rookie linebacker Ryan Kerrigan had on quarterback Alex Smith in the first quarter of the Niners’ 19-11 win.

In the photo, Kerrigan’s helmet is seemingly imbedded in the sternum of Smith, whose feet are in mid-air, his body vertical to the turf.

It’s clear in looking at the photo that Smith’s landing will not be pleasant. And it wasn’t. After Kerrigan planted him to the ground, Smith’s chinstrap was around his nose, but, somewhat remarkably, the football remained tucked to his chest.

After the game, coach Jim Harbaugh praised Smith for not fumbling after taking a hellacious hit, not the first time Harbaugh has noted his quarterback’s “uncanny” ability this season.

Today, Smith said he’s stressed having better ball security in the pocket, making a point of keeping two hands on the ball. He’s been stripped by the Eagles’ Jason Babin and Detroit’s Kyle Vanden Bosch, but has managed to hang on after absorbing more violent hits.

He said New England’s Tom Brady is one of the NFL’s best in terms of ball security. Brady has lost four fumbles in his past 40 games. Entering the season, Smith had lost 13 fumbles in his previous 45 games.

“I do think it is a skill,” Smith said. “… It’s tough to always practice in the true sense of the word. There are things you can do. I think you look at the guys who have been the best at it across the league, Tom Brady sticks out in my mind. He takes a lot of pride in that, holing on to the football in the pocket and has been great at it his whole career.”

Perhaps even more impressive than Smith’s ability to hang onto the ball, he managed to scrape himself off the FedEx Field moments after taking Kerrigan’s hit.

“He’s taken a lot of big hits this season,” tight end Delanie Walker said. “He just gets up and he just shakes it off. But I was really screaming ‘Throw the ball’ when I saw it coming. He took the hit, but he bounced right back up. Dusted it off. That’s Alex. We like to see our quarterback being tough. That’s just Alex.”

* Smith ranks among the NFL’s top 10 in five categories, including interception percentage (1st), completion percentage (5th) and passer rating (6th).

Harbaugh, clearly impressed, said this today: “He’s every bit the elite quarterback as there is playing in the game right now.”

* Harbaugh said he expects running back Frank Gore (ankle) to practice today.